Bowstring with a variable lengthening device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable bow string having a loop in one end for receiving a bow limb end and an elongated loop at the other end for receiving the opposite limb end of a bow. The elongated loop is wound about an adjusting fixture or body for a predetermined number of turns or wraps to adjust the bow string to a predetermined desirable length. When the bow is strung, the remaining portion of the elongated loop extending from the adjusting fixture is spread over the bow limb end such that the adjusting fixture is held taut against the bow limb.

United States Patent [191 Manspeaker Apr. 9, 1974 BOWSTRING WITH AVARIABLE I LENGTHENING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Edward L. Manspeaker, P.O.Box

408 RD. 2, Apollo, Pa. 15613 [22] Filed: June 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:266,649

limb.

2,947,301 8/1960 Haulk 124/30 A Primary ExaminerRichard' C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Carothers& Carothers 5 7 ABSTRACT An adjustable bow string having a loop in oneend for receiving a bow limb end and an elongated loop at the other endfor receiving the opposite limb end of a bow. The elongated loop iswound about an adjusting fixture or body for a predetermined number ofturns or wraps to adjust the bow string to a predetermined desirablelength. When the bow is strung, the remaining portion of the elongatedloop extending from the adjusting fixture is spread over the bow limbend such that the adjusting fixture is held taut against the bow 8 a ms.6 Dtawitts iall BOWSTRING WITH A VARIABLE LENGTHENING DEVICE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates toarchery bows used primarily as a sporting instrument, and moreparticularly to adjustable bow strings for such bows.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art The art of shooting the bow and arrow hasbecome increasingly popular in later years, and accordingly manydifferent manufacturers are participating in the manufacture of anextreme variety of different types of bows. Each different bow has adifferent length and a different pull and requires a string of aparticular length.

It is also well known that a bow shoots an arrow much better when thebow string is the perfect length for the particular bow. In fact, twobows of exactly the same model, length and pull weight may not shoot thesame with the same length of bow string due to the individualcharacteristics of the bow. Consequently, the archery enthusiast doesnot obtain the most beneficial abilities of his particular bow.

Moreover, the proprietors of sporting goods stores are forever plaguedwith the problem that they are not stocked with the proper string to fita bow of unknown length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principle object of the presentinvention to provide an adjustable bow string which eliminates theaforementioned disadvantages.

The bow string of the present invention is adjustable such that anarcher can tune his particular bow to shoot at its very'best at alltimes. The adjustable bow string of the present invention comprises abow string having a loop at one end for receiving a bow limb and anelongated loop at the other end to receive the other limb end of a bow.An adjusting fixturereceives a predetermined number of wraps or turns ofthe elongated loop of the bow string in order to shorten the bow stringa predetermined desirable length and then terminates from the adjustingfixture intermediateits end such that a remaining portion of theelongated loop remains to be received around the bow limb end such thatthe adjusting fixture is held tightly against the back side of the bowlimb when the bow is strung.

A slidable sleeve is preferably provided over the remaining portion ofthe exposed elongated loop such that it may be slid up and down in orderto adjust the open length of the elongated loop which remains exposedfrom the termination point of the adjusting fixture.

Unlike the conventional bow string, the termination loops, andparticularly the aforesaid elongated adjustv able loop, comprisesa softflexible material which will easily flex such that it may be readilywrapped about the adjusting fixture.

The adjustable bow string of the present invention is further preferablycomprised of a plurality of endless string loops bound together to formthe aforesaid loop ends thereby providing a decidedly stronger bowstring. These endless strings are typically bound together with anyconventional type serving or whipping, and particularly adjacent theloop ends and in the middle of the string where the arrow notch isreceived.

The adjusting fixture preferably consists of a small body or memberhaving a notch atone end to receive the end of the aforesaid elongatedloop which is wrapped around the main body or barrel of the adjustingfixture to the extent desired in order to achieve the proper bow stringlength and then the remaining portion of the elongated loop is passedthrough an opening or anchor hole in the body intermediate the endsthereof and then slipped over the bow limb end such that it rests in thenotches at the end of the bow as typically provided. In order toeliminate the need for passing the elongated loop end through thelattermentioned opening intermediate the ends of the adjusting body, anentrance slot may be provided through the body to provide exterioraccess so that the elongated loop of the bow string end may bepassedthrough the slot directly to theanchor hole through the adjustingbody.

Although the entrance slot previously mentioned in regard to the anchorhole is preferable, it is not necessary that it be provided as the endof the elongated loop may be passed through the anchor hole and thenwrapped around the barrel or body of the adjusting fixture and itsterminal loop end slipped in the firstmentioned slot at the end of theadjusting fixture.

The fact that the anchor hole in the adjusting fixture is intermediatethe ends thereof permits the fixture to lie flat against the bow limbend when the bow is strung as the adjusting fixture extends on bothsides of the anchor hole thereby requiring it to lay flat or snugagainst the bow limb end on the opposite side thereof from which the bowstring extends to receive the notched end of an arrow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages appear inthe following description and claims.

The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplificationwithout limiting the invention or the claims thereto, certain practicalembodiments illustrating the principles of this invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a strung bow utilizing theadjustable bow string of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view of the elongated bow string loop endof the adjustable bow string of the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 1 in its unwrapped state.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the adjusting fixture utilized in theadjustable bow string of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4a is an enlarged'section view in front elevation of the adjustingfixture illustrated in FIG. 3 with the elongated softflexible-termination bow string loop of FIG. I wrapped thereabout asseen in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4b is a view in side elevation of the bow limb end with theadjusting fixture illustrated in FIG. 4a.

FIG. 4c is a view in rear elevation illustrating the reverse side of thebow limb with the adjusting fixture attached thereto in FIG. 4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1,the bow 1 is illustrated in its strung position such that the bow string2 is taut and secured about bow limb ends 3 and 4 respectively. Each ofthe bow limb ends 3 and 4 are provided with the conventional notches 5(as best illustrated in FIGS. 4a through 40) in order to receive therespective loop ends of the bow string 2.

At the bottom of FIG. 1, the adjusting fixture 6 (as illustrated indetail in FIG. 3) is illustrated such that it is positioned on thereverse side of the bow 1 from the portion of the bow string 2 whichextends toward the center 7 thereof in and about the area where thenotch of the arrow is received. It will also be noted that the adjustingfixture 6 is securely retained against the bow limb end 3 by means of arubber band 7 which serves to retain the adjusting fixture 6 togetherwith the bow string end to be wrapped therearound when the bow string 2is not strung or is in its unstrung position.

In FIG. 2, elongated soft flexible bow string end 8 is illustrated whichwill eventually be wrapped around the adjusting fixture 6 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3 such that the remaining portion of the elongated loop 8encompasses the bow limb end 3 and is received in the notches 5 thereofas illustrated best in FIGS. 4a and 4c.

Elongated bow string loop end 8 is provided with a slidable sleeve 9 inorder to adjust the open extent of the loop 8 which remains afterencompassing the bow limb end 3, to a desired length as illustrated bestin FIGS. 4b and 40. In other words, the slidable sleeve 9 may be slidvertically in order to reduce the opening of loop 8. This slidablesleeve 9 is preferably made of a flexible plastic.

As previously discussed, the bow string 2 is preferably made of aplurality of endless strings which are bound together by servings orwrappings 10 illustrated best in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flexible elongatedloop 8 is then preferably provided by a flexible soft braid 11 about theends of the plurality of endless strings.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the adjusting fixture 6 is preferably made ofone piece. The substance of the fixture is preferably plastic, and asillustrated, it is provided with rounded edges which contact the bowstring in order to provide long bow string life.

Referring to the adjusting fixture 6, it is provided with an elongatedadjusting barrel 12 about which the elongated flexible bow string loopend 8 is wrapped as best illustrated in FIGS. 4a through 40.

From these figures, it may be seen that the long adjustable loop end 8is first inserted in the starting hole 13 of the adjusting fixture 6which is adjacent one end thereof, and is then wound about the adjustingbarrel 12 of the adjusting fixture 6 a desired number of turns until theadjustable elongated loop 8 has been shortened to the desirable lengthat which time both line halves of the flexible loop 8 are passed throughthe en- 'trance slot 14 into anchor hole 15 and the remaining portion ofthe elongated loop 8 is then passed over the end of the bow limb 3 suchthat the opposed strands of the loop 8 lie snugly in slots 5. Theadjustable or slidable sleeve may then be snugged up toward the slots 5in order to decrease the remaining open portion of the loop 8 whichextends past the bow limb end 3.

When the bow string 2 is thereafter pulled or made taut in the directionas indicated in FIG. 4b, such as when the bow l is strung as illustratedin FIG. 1, the adjusting fixture 6 is drawn tightly against the reverseside of the bow limb end 3 as illustrated in FIG. 4b. The adjustingfixture 6 will retain this position due to the fact that the anchor holeis provided intermediate the ends of the adjusting fixture 6 such thatit extends on both sides thereof thereby preventing the adjustingfixture from tipping and maintaining it in a flat position against thebow limb 3 at all times when tension is applied to the bow string 2. Inother words, the adjusting fixture 6 is provided with extensions 16which prevent the fixture from tipping when the elongated loop 8 passingthrough anchor hole 15 is pulled taut.

As previously mentioned, in order to maintain the adjusting fixture 6against the bow limb for storage when the bow is in its unstrung state,a large rubber band 7 may be placed around the bow limb end 3 andfixture 6 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

I claim:

1. An adjustable bow string comprising a bow string having a loop ateach end for receiving a bow limb end and an elongated loop at the otherend to receive the other limb end of a bow, an adjusting fixture havinga winding barrel having notch means at one end receiving the end of saidelongated loop, said winding barrel receiving a predetermined number ofwraps of said elongated loop therearound to shorten said bow string to apredetermined desirable length, and an anchor means on said fixturereceiving said wrapped elongated loop to exit from said barrel andthereby form a smaller loop.

2. The adjustable bow string of claim 1 including a slidable sleeve oversaid elongated loop to adjust the opening of said loop.

3. The adjustable bow string of claim 1 wherein said elongated loop ismade of a soft flexible material.

4. The adjustable bow string of claim 1 wherein said bow string iscomprised of a plurality of endless string bound together to form saidend loops.

5. The adjustable bow string of claim 4 including a slidable sleeve oversaid loop to adjust the length of said loop.

6. The adjustable bow string of claim 1 wherein said anchor meansconsists of an anchor hole adjacent the other end of said barrelreceiving said wrapped elongated loop therethrough.

7. The adjustable bow string of claim 6 characterized by having anentrance slot in said fixture providing an open access to said anchorhole.

8. The adjustable bow string of claim 6 characterized by an extension onsaid fixture extending from said anchor hole on the opposite side fromthe winding barrel.

1. An adjustable bow string comprising a bow string having a loop ateach end for receiving a bow limb end and an elongated loop at the otherend to receive the other limb end of a bow, an adjusting fixture havinga winding barrel having notch means at one end receiving the end of saidelongated loop, said winding Barrel receiving a predetermined number ofwraps of said elongated loop therearound to shorten said bow string to apredetermined desirable length, and an anchor means on said fixturereceiving said wrapped elongated loop to exit from said barrel andthereby form a smaller loop.
 2. The adjustable bow string of claim 1including a slidable sleeve over said elongated loop to adjust theopening of said loop.
 3. The adjustable bow string of claim 1 whereinsaid elongated loop is made of a soft flexible material.
 4. Theadjustable bow string of claim 1 wherein said bow string is comprised ofa plurality of endless string bound together to form said end loops. 5.The adjustable bow string of claim 4 including a slidable sleeve oversaid loop to adjust the length of said loop.
 6. The adjustable bowstring of claim 1 wherein said anchor means consists of an anchor holeadjacent the other end of said barrel receiving said wrapped elongatedloop therethrough.
 7. The adjustable bow string of claim 6 characterizedby having an entrance slot in said fixture providing an open access tosaid anchor hole.
 8. The adjustable bow string of claim 6 characterizedby an extension on said fixture extending from said anchor hole on theopposite side from the winding barrel.